December Feasts of Our Lady

[MariaChristi]

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Today is the first day of December and there are some major and minor “Feast” days to celebrate God’s beautiful work in and through Mary:

Dec. 8 is the Feast of the Immaculate Conception;
Dec. 10 the Feast of the miraculous transfer of the House of Loreto;
Dec. 12 is the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe;
Dec. 25 - His Birth on Christmas, the Feast she shares with her Son;
Dec. 30, the Feast of the Holy Family, the Feast Mary shares with Jesus and Joseph.

Perhaps the least known of the above is Dec. 10 - the miraculous transfer of the Holy Family’s House in Nazareth to Loreto, Italy. See HERE

These days of Advent, spent with Mary, pondering all the mysteries of her life with Jesus, and with Joseph are precious opportunities to draw closer to her, and through Mary to enter a closer relationship with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Hopefully, many of us are praying a daily Rosary, and some may be able to participate in daily Mass during Advent.

I remember someone asking the question (I think it was posed to Sr. Lucia) why Mary asked the children to pray the Rosary daily and instead of requesting Holy Mass daily. The answer was simply that the little children were able to pray the Rosary every day, but Mass every day was not possible for them. That is a great consolation for me and for others – to know how Mary is aware of what is possible for us, and like Jesus her Son Who is God, Mary does not ask more than we are able to do with God’s Grace.

Blessed Advent to all and blessed December!

 

[patricius79]

Dec. 8 is the Feast of the Immaculate Conception;
Dec. 10 the Feast of the miraculous transfer of the House of Loreto;
Dec. 12 is the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe;
Dec. 25 - His Birth on Christmas, the Feast she shares with her Son;
Dec. 30, the Feast of the Holy Family, the Feast Mary shares with Jesus and Joseph.

The Feast of the Immaculate Conception is getting so close. We can let our sweet Mother embrace us so much. I believe that she loved God and us from the first instant of her conception than all the angels and saints love God!

 

[patricius79]

Here is a beautiful article about the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, and how we can defeat the culture of death, if we have and spread strong devotion to her.

ewtn.co.uk/news/catholic-commentary/our-lady-of-guadalupe-will-end-the-bloodshed-of-the-culture-of-death

 

[MariaChristi]

The Feast of the Immaculate Conception is getting so close. We can let our sweet Mother embrace us so much. I believe that she loved God and us from the first instant of her conception than all the angels and saints love God!

Yes, Pat, I agree. I am going to renew my Act of Consecration to Jesus through Mary on Dec. 8 after Holy Communion.

Dec. 8 is also the date of my entry into the ranks of the adult Legion of Mary. After three months of probaation anyone intersted in becoming a permanent Active Member makes a special “Legionary Promise” which is quite beautiful. You can read it on page 90 of the Legion Handbook see Here.

May each day be a day of grace for us, bringing us closer to fulfilling God’s unique Plan for us just as Mary did. May we be worthy sons and daughters of so noble a Mother!

 

[patricius79]

Yes, Pat, I agree. I am going to renew my Act of Consecration to Jesus through Mary on Dec. 8 after Holy Communion.

Dec. 8 is also the date of my entry into the ranks of the adult Legion of Mary. After three months of probaation anyone intersted in becoming a permanent Active Member makes a special “Legionary Promise” which is quite beautiful. You can read it on page 90 of the Legion Handbook see Here.

May each day be a day of grace for us, bringing us closer to fulfilling God’s unique Plan for us just as Mary did. May we be worthy sons and daughters of so noble a Mother!

It’s very beautiful, MariaChristi. I like where it talks about how our hearts and Mary’s heart are one, and about how we declare our complete dependence on her. If we depend on her in everything, the Church will be quickly renewed. I also like to think about how we are in Mary’s heart, and of course, in her womb, which again expresses this total dependence on our beloved Queen.

As our body breathes air, may our soul breathe the Name of Mary, Mother of Jesus!

 

[MariaChristi]

Here is a beautiful article about the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, and how we can defeat the culture of death, if we have and spread strong devotion to her.

ewtn.co.uk/news/catholic-commentary/our-lady-of-guadalupe-will-end-the-bloodshed-of-the-culture-of-death

Thanks, Pat,

Yes, Mary is indeed the Patroness of the unborn particularly under her title of Our Lady of Guadalupe. My favorite site for info on this apparition is HERE

 

[MariaChristi]

It’s very beautiful, MariaChristi. I like where it talks about how our hearts and Mary’s heart are one, and about how we declare our complete dependence on her. If we depend on her in everything, the Church will be quickly renewed. I also like to think about how we are in Mary’s heart, and of course, in her womb, which again expresses this total dependence on our beloved Queen.

As our body breathes air, may our soul breathe the Name of Mary, Mother of Jesus!

Yes, dear Pat,

The “Legionary Promise” written by Servant of God Frank Duff, founder of the Legion of Mary is very beautiful and resembles in some ways the Act of Consecration written by St. Louis de Montfort. Of course, that is no surprise – since the desire to LIVE Total Consecration to Jesus through Mary is really the foundation of the Legion. It was why the Legion was begun and why it continues!

“Mary Compared to the Air We Breathe” - the poem written by Gerard Manly Hopkins, SJ is one of my many “favorites”. Thanks for reminding me of it again. If anyone has not yet read this poem you can read it HERE

 

[patricius79]

Yes, dear Pat,

The “Legionary Promise” written by Servant of God Frank Duff, founder of the Legion of Mary is very beautiful and resembles in some ways the Act of Consecration written by St. Louis de Montfort. Of course, that is no surprise – since the desire to LIVE Total Consecration to Jesus through Mary is really the foundation of the Legion. It was why the Legion was begun and why it continues!

“Mary Compared to the Air We Breathe” - the poem written by Gerard Manly Hopkins, SJ is one of my many “favorites”. Thanks for reminding me of it again. If anyone has not yet read this poem you can read it HERE

Beautiful, Maria Christi. I can’t express why the idea of breathing Mary is so beautiful to me. I know it expressed how much we need her, how pure she is, and how present she is to us!

St. Louis says that those fully consecrated to Jesus are given greater crosses, but that Mary makes their crosses easy and sweet by making herself so present.

That indeed is my experience! I used to be so depressed. Now even when I’m suffering there is the sweetness of Mary’s presence and her holy name!

 

[MariaChristi]

Beautiful, Maria Christi. I can’t express why the idea of breathing Mary is so beautiful to me. I know it expressed how much we need her, how pure she is, and how present she is to us!

St. Louis says that those fully consecrated to Jesus are given greater crosses, but that Mary makes their crosses easy and sweet by making herself so present.

That indeed is my experience! I used to be so depressed. Now even when I’m suffering there is the sweetness of Mary’s presence and her holy name!

Thanks, Pat,

Truly “matters of the heart” are not easy to express – it seems to me. “The Blessed Virgin Compared to the Air we Breathe” is something the poet Gerard Manley Hopkins expressed in his poem and I believe others have also known its truth in their hearts. The first time I heard that poem I was about 20 years old and it impressed me so much, it has remained in me since then. We don’t forget words that touch us deeply. Hopkins may have learned the idea from St. De Montfort – ultimately we all learn of Mary by the power of the Holy Spirit.

You are absolutely correct that Mary, by God’s Grace, can help us to rise from depression and experience the joy of Jesus within us. Some saints have experienced terrible trials like St. Teresa of Calcutta and yet were able to smile. God can do great things in a soul who gives self totally to Him through Mary. Today is First Saturday, a special day to keep our Mother company, meditating on the mysteries of the Rosary and offering her reparation for all our sins and the sins of the world.

Thanks again for your reply and the sweet presence you bring, always coming with Mary!

 

[patricius79]

Thanks, Pat,

Truly “matters of the heart” are not easy to express – it seems to me. “The Blessed Virgin Compared to the Air we Breathe” is something the poet Gerard Manley Hopkins expressed in his poem and I believe others have also known its truth in their hearts. The first time I heard that poem I was about 20 years old and it impressed me so much, it has remained in me since then. We don’t forget words that touch us deeply. !

Thank you Maria Christi,

How much the world needs the mothering of Our Lady! Yes, words can touch us deeply. When I was about 20 I loved poetry too. And I liked to argue about religion. I’m not sure if I’d read that poem by Hopkins. And if I did, I don’t think my heart was ready.

I didn’t know about the consecration, and I didn’t even pray a single Hail Mary–which is more than all poems together-- daily.

Beginning a couple of years ago,it was so helpful or me to read manly men like St. Louis, St. Alphonsus, and St. Maximilian declare that they are little children of Mary.

St. Alphonsus says he wishes the whole world would know that he would already be in hell were it not for Our Lady. That is true for me. I have had foretastes of hell, so I know what our Lady has rescued me from through the Cross of Our Lord Jesus. Like Christ, she counts her pains as nothing, so long as we are saved.

There is so much pain and broken-heartedness in the world. If only we can help people to learn about Jesus through Our lady. Yes, the Holy Spirit teaches us things us many things about Our Lady, and through Our Lady.

The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception draws very close! How much the world needs the feminine affirmation, rerceptivity, and mercy of Our Blessed Mother!

Praise be to God Our Savior for preserving Mary from all stain of sin, and giving us His own Mother as our Mother!

Thank you MariaChristi for your encouragement and glorification of Christ in Mary,

Pat

 

[MariaChristi]

Thank you Maria Christi,

How much the world needs the mothering of Our Lady! Yes, words can touch us deeply. When I was about 20 I loved poetry too. And I liked to argue about religion. I’m not sure if I’d read that poem by Hopkins. And if I did, I don’t think my heart was ready.

I didn’t know about the consecration, and I didn’t even pray a single Hail Mary–which is more than all poems together-- daily.

Beginning a couple of years ago,it was so helpful or me to read manly men like St. Louis, St. Alphonsus, and St. Maximilian declare that they are little children of Mary.

St. Alphonsus says he wishes the whole world would know that he would already be in hell were it not for Our Lady. That is true for me. I have had foretastes of hell, so I know what our Lady has rescued me from through the Cross of Our Lord Jesus. Like Christ, she counts her pains as nothing, so long as we are saved.

There is so much pain and broken-heartedness in the world. If only we can help people to learn about Jesus through Our lady. Yes, the Holy Spirit teaches us things us many things about Our Lady, and through Our Lady.

The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception draws very close! How much the world needs the feminine affirmation, rerceptivity, and mercy of Our Blessed Mother!

Praise be to God Our Savior for preserving Mary from all stain of sin, and giving us His own Mother as our Mother!

Thank you MariaChristi for your encouragement and glorification of Christ in Mary,

Pat

Dear Pat,

You hit the proverbial “nail on the head” – the world needs “the mothering of Our Lady!”

That is why Jesus told all of us, from His Cross: “Behold your Mother!” He knew we needed her – it was God’s Plan from the beginning ( Gen. 3:15):

I will put enmity between you and the woman,
and between your offspring and hers;
They will strike at your head,
while you strike at their heel.

Jesus came to us the first time through Mary and they struck satan’s head and crushed him by the power of the Holy Spirit and their obedience. Mary said her “Yes” because she was filled with grace and knew God desired her willingness to give herself to His Will. Jesus was conceived in her womb. Jesus came to set us free from sin, and on Calvary He gave Himself for all of us, including Mary, who was preserved from all sin by the special privilege of her Immaculate Conception. The Word became Flesh to give His “Yes” on the Cross for us.

How beautifully the Catechism of the Catholic Church expresses God’s Truth:

… BORN OF THE VIRGIN MARY

CCC 487 What the Catholic faith believes about Mary is based on what it believes about Christ, and what it teaches about Mary illumines in turn its faith in Christ.

CCC 488 “God sent forth his Son”, but to prepare a body for him, he wanted the free co-operation of a creature. For this, from all eternity God chose for the mother of his Son a daughter of Israel, a young Jewish woman of Nazareth in Galilee, “a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary”:

The Father of mercies willed that the Incarnation should be preceded by assent on the part of the predestined mother, so that just as a woman had a share in the coming of death, so also should a woman contribute to the coming of life…

CCC 973 By pronouncing her “fiat” at the Annunciation and giving her consent to the Incarnation, Mary was already collaborating with the whole work her Son was to accomplish. She is mother wherever he is Savior and head of the Mystical Body…

CCC 975 “We believe that the Holy Mother of God, the new Eve, Mother of the Church, continues in heaven to exercise her maternal role on behalf of the members of Christ” (Paul VI, CPG # 15).

Yes, The Feast of the Immaculate Conception is just 3 days from today. I want to make a little triduum of prayer in preparation to renew my Total Consecration to Jesus through Mary on this Dec. 8. That Consecration is one of the greatest graces of my life.

 

[Vico]

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Today is the first day of December and there are some major and minor “Feast” days to celebrate God’s beautiful work in and through Mary:

Dec. 8 is the Feast of the Immaculate Conception;
Dec. 10 the Feast of the miraculous transfer of the House of Loreto;
Dec. 12 is the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe;
Dec. 25 - His Birth on Christmas, the Feast she shares with her Son;
Dec. 30, the Feast of the Holy Family, the Feast Mary shares with Jesus and Joseph.

Perhaps the least known of the above is Dec. 10 - the miraculous transfer of the Holy Family’s House in Nazareth to Loreto, Italy. See HERE

These days of Advent, spent with Mary, pondering all the mysteries of her life with Jesus, and with Joseph are precious opportunities to draw closer to her, and through Mary to enter a closer relationship with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Hopefully, many of us are praying a daily Rosary, and some may be able to participate in daily Mass during Advent.

I remember someone asking the question (I think it was posed to Sr. Lucia) why Mary asked the children to pray the Rosary daily and instead of requesting Holy Mass daily. The answer was simply that the little children were able to pray the Rosary every day, but Mass every day was not possible for them. That is a great consolation for me and for others – to know how Mary is aware of what is possible for us, and like Jesus her Son Who is God, Mary does not ask more than we are able to do with God’s Grace.

Blessed Advent to all and blessed December!

So I read that on December 9 to 10, 1294, the Holy House disappeared from Tersatto and landed “in various places” of Italy.

Also, Byzantine Catholic Church has slightly different liturgical calendar:

• Dec 8 The Maternity of Holy Anna
• Dec 12 The Mother of God of Guadalupe
• Dec 25 Nativity of our Lord, God and Savior Jesus Christ
• Dec 26 Synaxis of the Theotokos and Even-Virgin Mary;
• Sunday after Nativity: The Commemoration of the Holy and Righteous Joseph The Betrothed, David the King, and james the Broher of God (compare: Latin on Dec 30)
• Dec 27 The Holy Apostle, First Martyr, and Archdeacon Stephen (compare: Latin Dec 26)
• Dec 28 The Holy 20,000 Martyrs of Nicomedia
• Dec 29 The Holy Innocents Killed by Herod in Bethlehem (compare: Latin Dec 28)

Indulgence Days for Confraternities (in December)

Brown Scapular (Carmelite):
St John of the Cross - Solemnity - (December 14),

Blue Scapular (Marian):
Feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, December 8;
and Christmas Day, December 25;

Third Order of the Most Holy Trinity:
Saint John of Matha (December 17)

 

[patricius79]

Dear Pat,

You hit the proverbial “nail on the head” – the world needs “the mothering of Our Lady!”

That is why Jesus told all of us, from His Cross: “Behold your Mother!” He knew we needed her – it was God’s Plan from the beginning ( Gen. 3:15):

Jesus came to us the first time through Mary and they struck satan’s head and crushed him by the power of the Holy Spirit and their obedience. Mary said her “Yes” because she was filled with grace and knew God desired her willingness to give herself to His Will. Jesus was conceived in her womb. Jesus came to set us free from sin, and on Calvary He gave Himself for all of us, including Mary, who was preserved from all sin by the special privilege of her Immaculate Conception. The Word became Flesh to give His “Yes” on the Cross for us.

How beautifully the Catechism of the Catholic Church expresses God’s Truth:

Yes, The Feast of the Immaculate Conception is just 3 days from today. I want to make a little triduum of prayer in preparation to renew my Total Consecration to Jesus through Mary on this Dec. 8. That Consecration is one of the greatest graces of my life.

“Behold your Mother!” That says it all.

Yes, how glad we must be that God created this Woman of the great “Yes”! When I think of Mary, I think of the word “receptivity”. That’s what God wants to teach us through our Mother: to receive all that he wills, whether our feelings and emotions, our conscience, our reason, the Word of God: everything that He gives.

Yes, please pray that we would all make the most complete reaffirmation of our union with Mary that is possible. By the power of Mary’s Immaculate Conception may we be humble and trusting in God’s Goodness. May nothing separate our wills from her Immaculate Heart.

May we live completely in her Immaculate Heart!

God Bless you, sister,

Pat

 

[MariaChristi]

…
Also, Byzantine Catholic Church has slightly different liturgical calendar:

• Dec 8 The Maternity of Holy Anna
• Dec 12 The Mother of God of Guadalupe
• Dec 25 Nativity of our Lord, God and Savior Jesus Christ
• Dec 26 Synaxis of the Theotokos and Even-Virgin Mary;
• Sunday after Nativity: The Commemoration of the Holy and Righteous Joseph The Betrothed, David the King, and james the Broher of God (compare: Latin on Dec 30)
• Dec 27 The Holy Apostle, First Martyr, and Archdeacon Stephen (compare: Latin Dec 26)
• Dec 28 The Holy 20,000 Martyrs of Nicomedia
• Dec 29 The Holy Innocents Killed by Herod in Bethlehem (compare: Latin Dec 28)

Indulgence Days for Confraternities (in December)

Brown Scapular (Carmelite):
St John of the Cross - Solemnity - (December 14),

Blue Scapular (Marian):
Feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, December 8;
and Christmas Day, December 25;

Third Order of the Most Holy Trinity:
Saint John of Matha (December 17)

Dear Vico,

Thanks for your reply and for the Byzantine Catholic Church’s slightly different liturgical calendar, and notice of indulgences on specific dates. It is so good to celebrate these feasts in both the eastern and western Traditions.

 

[MariaChristi]

“Behold your Mother!” That says it all.

Yes, how glad we must be that God created this Woman of the great “Yes”! When I think of Mary, I think of the word “receptivity”. That’s what God wants to teach us through our Mother: to receive all that he wills, whether our feelings and emotions, our conscience, our reason, the Word of God: everything that He gives.

Yes, please pray that we would all make the most complete reaffirmation of our union with Mary that is possible. By the power of Mary’s Immaculate Conception may we be humble and trusting in God’s Goodness. May nothing separate our wills from her Immaculate Heart.

May we live completely in her Immaculate Heart!

God Bless you, sister,

Pat

Dear Pat,

Thanks for your reply. Since the First Sunday in Advent marked the beginning of a new Liturgical Year and also the 100th Anniversary of the Marian Apparitions at Fatima, I think this Dec. 8 - Feast of the Immaculate Conception, puts even more emphasis on the “Immaculate Heart of Mary” for me, as I hear Jesus say, “Behold your Mother”

I’ve begun my little triduum of prayer in preparation for Dec. 8 and my renewal of Total Consecration to Jesus through Mary. The opening words of the Act of Consecration written by St. Louis de Montfort are addressed to Jesus as Eternal Wisdom dwelling in the splendor of His Father from all eternity and in the virginal womb of Mary His most worthy Mother at the time of His Incarnation.

Pondering the unborn Jesus in the womb of Mary, today, I am also mindful of Mary’s dwelling in the womb of her own Mother, St. Anne, and of being uniquely favored by God, Who preserved her from any stain of sin even from the first instant of her conception in St. Anne’s womb. Her tiny Immaculate Heart grew, as any baby’s heart grows – but her tiny Heart was absolutely immaculate! This Feast of the Immaculate Conception celebrates Mary’s Immaculate Conception – God’s creation of Mary to be His pure tabernacle. We celebrate the Word Made Flesh on Mar. 25 when Mary conceived Jesus in her pure womb.

When we consecrate ourselves to Jesus through Mary, we are giving Him greater joy in seeing her holding us in her arms. We know our own unworthiness but we know also His great love for Mary who was ever sinless and always given to doing His Will. What joy it is to ponder the beauty of Mary as our Mother given to us by Jesus from His Cross. What joy to know that Jesus gave us to Mary (in the person of John) to be her children, in the order of grace.

Yes, “receptivity” and “humility” are apt words to describe our Mother Mary. She received All from Him and in humility gave All to Him in return. May we do the same, by the power of the Holy Spirit, grace upon grace, moment by moment all our lives!

 

[patricius79]

Dear Pat,…

… God, Who preserved her from any stain of sin even from the first instant of her conception in St. Anne’s womb. Her tiny Immaculate Heart grew, as any baby’s heart grows – but her tiny Heart was absolutely immaculate!..

When we consecrate ourselves to Jesus through Mary, we are giving Him greater joy in seeing her holding us in her arms…

Yes, “receptivity” and “humility” are apt words to describe our Mother Mary. She received All from Him and in humility gave All to Him in return. May we do the same, by the power of the Holy Spirit, grace upon grace, moment by moment all our lives!

Beautiful. Yes, she is both receptive, and humble. That completes it.

How wonderful it is to be held by the Immaculate Mother of God!

 

[MariaChristi]

Beautiful. Yes, she is both receptive, and humble. That completes it.

How wonderful it is to be held by the Immaculate Mother of God!

Dear Pat,

One of my “favorite” quotes from apparitions of Our Lady comes from her words at Guadalupe. Mary said to her dear son, St. Juan Diego: “Am I not your Mother? Are you not in the crossing of my arms?”

What a sweet consolation to hear those words deep within our hearts and know that Mary always speaks the Truth! What a joy to know that each child of hers, in some mysterious and beautiful way, by the power of God, is held in her arms!

Today and tomorrow, we prepare for the Glorious Feast of Her Immaculate Conception. How often Mary has appeared to “little ones” like St. Bernadette of Lourdes to whom she revealed herself by saying: “I am the Immaculate Conception”. Poor little Bernadette had little knowledge of what those words meant but like St. Juan Diego and the children of Fatima, she simply repeated Mary’s message for the world to hear and to believe.

“Little ones” are not only children, but those who are child-like at any age – “not childish” but child-like, humble and dependent on God as little children are. Mary our Queen and our Mother is yet a child of God herself and our perfect example of one who is completely humble and dependent upon Him.

Come, Holy Spirit, and fill us with Your Love as you filled Mary. Help us to learn, as you helped Mary to learn. Bring us into the complete Truth of Jesus, Who is meek and Humble of Heart.

 

[patricius79]

Dear Pat,

One of my “favorite” quotes from apparitions of Our Lady comes from her words at Guadalupe. Mary said to her dear son, St. Juan Diego: “Am I not your Mother? Are you not in the crossing of my arms?”

What a sweet consolation to hear those words deep within our hearts and know that Mary always speaks the Truth! What a joy to know that each child of hers, in some mysterious and beautiful way, by the power of God, is held in her arms!.

Thank you for reminding me of that quotation from Quadalupe, my sister. Yes, that is one of my favorites. Her words to St. Juan Diego were so consoling. Thank you.

Yes, we are all in her arms, and in her womb, and in her Immaculate Heart. And the more we know this, the more peace and courage we will have.

Yes, we are so close to the Immaculate Conception of Our Mother!

 

[Kenny_Kamel]

Dec. 30, the Feast of the Holy Family, the Feast Mary shares with Jesus and Joseph.

Mary shares the day with Jesus (and Joseph)… hmmmm…

Also, Byzantine Catholic Church has slightly different liturgical calendar:

• Dec 8 The Maternity of Holy Anna
• Dec 12 The Mother of God of Guadalupe
• Dec 25 Nativity of our Lord, God and Savior Jesus Christ
• Dec 26 Synaxis of the Theotokos and Even-Virgin Mary;
• Sunday after Nativity: The Commemoration of the Holy and Righteous Joseph The Betrothed, David the King, and james the Broher of God (compare: Latin on Dec 30)
• Dec 27 The Holy Apostle, First Martyr, and Archdeacon Stephen (compare: Latin Dec 26)
• Dec 28 The Holy 20,000 Martyrs of Nicomedia
• Dec 29 The Holy Innocents Killed by Herod in Bethlehem (compare: Latin Dec 28)

Indulgence Days for Confraternities (in December)

Brown Scapular (Carmelite):
St John of the Cross - Solemnity - (December 14),

Blue Scapular (Marian):
Feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, December 8;
and Christmas Day, December 25;

Third Order of the Most Holy Trinity:
Saint John of Matha (December 17)

Also of note is that January 1st is the Feast of the Circumcision of Jesus, for whatever reason the Roman/Latin Church took the focus of this most important day away from Jesus and directed it towards Mary (in a most arbitrary fashion it seems).

Perhaps they thought that it could not be “shared” - see first quoted post.

 

[MariaChristi]

Mary shares the day with Jesus (and Joseph)… hmmmm…

Also of note is that January 1st is the Feast of the Circumcision of Jesus, for whatever reason the Roman/Latin Church took the focus of this most important day away from Jesus and directed it towards Mary (in a most arbitrary fashion it seems).

Perhaps they thought that it could not be “shared” - see first quoted post.

Dear Kenny,

Thanks for your reply, especially your comment on my use of the word “shares”: (…hmmmm…) You made me smile. “Share” seemed a good word to use for the Feast of the Holy Family – I know that I learned to share in my family.

Regarding the Jan.1 Feast, a helpful article on the “Historico-Liturgical” aspect is HERE. It was not really “arbitrary” nor is any feast of Mary ever intended to “take away” anything from, but rather to “add” more praise to the Lord – as Mary herself says in Luke’s Gospel: “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord…” (cf Luke 1:46)

The Catechism of the Catholic Church helps explain further:

CCC 487 - What the Catholic faith believes about Mary is based on what it believes about Christ, and what it teaches about Mary illumines in turn its faith in Christ. (Underlining is mine for emphasis)

The reason I chose to list some December Feasts of Our Lady is because in our time, I find a certain decline among many Catholics in their Devotion to God’s Mother. Words from Pope St. John Paul II in 1982, are important for us to ponder:

…Where the Mother is, there too is the Son. When one moves away from the Mother, sooner or later he ends up keeping distant from the Son as well. It is no wonder that today, in various sectors of secularised society, we note a widespread crisis of faith in God, preceded by a drop in devotion to the Virgin Mother…

Thanks again for your reply. Mary needs to be seen in her relationship with Christ, and ultimately in her relationship with the Trinity. The more we behold Mary our Mother in union with God, through Christ and the power of His Holy Spirit, the better we may see our own call to holiness.